Sharon V. was introduced to Innovative Changes by Ben Helgren, Financial Skills Coach at Native American Youth Association and Family Center (NAYA). Her goal was to buy a home, but her past credit history was a barrier to qualifying for an affordable mortgage. She was also paying a high interest rate on another loan. Ben suggested that she use a loan from Innovation Changes to pay off her other costly loan and simultaneously, open up another line of credit.
Sharon came to the IC$ office committed to use the services in the most advantageous way possible. She was able to save money by paying off her other loan and made regular, on time payments for her IC$ loan. Meanwhile, she enrolled in Homebuyer’s Individual Development Account (matched savings) program with NAYA and sought out the information that she needed to accomplish her goal. One year later, all her hard work came to fruition and she was able to buy a home!
Sharon says, “We moved in June 2011. It really feels great to know that my money is going towards my future and security instead of to a landlord.”
In the fall, six months after paying off her first loan and after settling into her new home, IC$ heard from Sharon again. Her daughter had just graduated from college and needed money to take her board exams and pay for her license to be a certified masseuse.
“Unfortunately, I had not been working full-time for a few months and didn’t have the money,” Sharon reflects. “I was really upset when the Credit Union wouldn’t give me a loan and I made a phone call to Innovative Changes. They worked with me to apply for a new loan, I was approved and the next thing I knew, my daughter was registering for exams! Thank you for the work that you do for us folks that don’t have perfect credit!”
Since taking out the loan, Sharon’s daughter is well on her way to being a licensed masseuse! She passed her first exam and is scheduled to take her next one soon!
When thinking about what Sharon has accomplished Ben Helgren says, “I think a key to Sharon’s success is that she has been willing to slow down when need be, and seek non-traditional paths to success. Sharon also is very aware of the individual values that make her set the goals in the first place.”
“Sharon has used her loans from Innovative Changes strategically; she leveraged her resources and achieved a major goal!” Carmina Lass, IC$ staff who worked with Sharon over the past year and a half, remarks. “We are so happy that we can continue to be a dependable resource for Sharon and all of our clients who are working towards building assets and financial security.”
